Missing girl with autism crawled under a hay bale to endure cold, NC cops say

The frantic community search for a missing girl with autism came to a joyous end a day later, when rescuers found her tucked under a hay bale, North Carolina officials say.

The 15-year-old vanished Tuesday, Dec. 16, in the Hallsboro area of Columbus County, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office says.

When approached late Wednesday, she “asked for a Pepsi,” Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers said at a news conference.

“We’ve checked that location several times, but she had got under ... a round bale of hay for horses or cows in the middle of a horse pasture,” Rogers said. “She (had) come out and that’s how we spotted her.”

The girl, identified as Jettie Edwards, was taken to a hospital for an exam. She was determined to be in good health and reunited with her family, he said.

“She asked for a Pepsi,” Rogers said. “It’s exciting, because most times things like this don’t end well, and this has ended really well. ... We were all worried. It’s a blessing that she’s ok.”

Jettie vanished around 9 p.m. Tuesday, wearing only a pick sweatshirt and blue jeans in temperatures below freezing. The low Tuesday night was 23 degrees, AccuWeather reports.

Hallsboro is about a 120-mile drive south from downtown Raleigh.

This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 6:14 AM with the headline "Missing girl with autism crawled under a hay bale to endure cold, NC cops say."